A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report tabled in the Odisha Assembly has revealed large-scale financial irregularities in Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDAs), with suspected misappropriation amounting to Rs 148.75 crore between 2018-19 and 2022-23.

The audit, covering 11 sampled ITDAs, found that 71 bank accounts were being operated by Junior Engineers (JEs) and Assistant Engineers (AEs), where government funds were allegedly diverted through ATM withdrawals, self-drawn cheques, POS payments, UPI transfers, mobile recharges, insurance premium payments, and even mutual fund/stock market investments—all unrelated to official work.

Key Findings

Poor Utilisation: Of the Rs 1,709.47 crore allocated to 20 ITDAs, only Rs 1,190.44 crore (70%) was spent in the sampled agencies

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